Gone

In the past 6 weeks or so 4 people have passed away.  Three of them I knew fairly well and the fourth was a friend's step dad.  Other than Brian's grandma none of them would be considered "old".  And of the other 3, only one had any kind of terminal illness.

It's these last two that have got me the most.  Their kids are my age with littles like I have.  I've known them all since high school.  The first, just 2 weeks ago, had a massive stroke and died within days.  This one I played in the German band with.  He was a superb musician and always fun to play with.  My mom told me she'd just seen him at church the weekend before with his grandkids and then... gone.  I didn't even make it to the funeral because I was sick.

The second, just yesterday.  He's been sick for awhile, but that doesn't make it any easier.  His kids are all younger than me.  And a grandbaby is due any day.  I woke up this morning, before I knew, and that pregnant mama was so heavy on my heart.

October 2010 - helping Cory dump the apple waste from the cider pressing

I know, without a shadow of a doubt, that both of these men are with Jesus, but somehow that doesn't make it any easier.  It's not supposed to be like this.  It hurts.  Our world is too broken.

Who knew when you were a kid that growing up meant this?